England mates to square off as Big Bash rivals

Now he needs another 38 runs to post 1000 career runs for the franchise, making him the third player to do so behind Nic Maddinson (1035) and skipper Moises Henriques (1016).

But while Lumb cannot wait for tonight's Sydney Smash at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground, he hopes it's not another England international who steals the show.

James Vince was all class during his debut for the Sydney Thunder last Sunday night with an ultra-cool 44 runs off 28 balls.

Vince was labelled a "seriously good player” by Thunder skipper Shane Watson afterwards.

Lumb played with Vince at Hampshire back home in England, and knows he is destined for greater things.

In fact, the next time Vince is sighted at the SCG it could be with the England Test team during next summer's Ashes.

"We'll see more of Vincey in the England colours,” said South African-born Lumb, who played three one-day internationals and 27 Twenty20s for England.

"But hopefully he'll miss out on Saturday, which will be a bonus.

"I played with Vincey at Hampshire - he's a very good player, a very orthodox player who is nice on the eye, and a good lad.

"From a young age, he was likened to Michael Vaughan, just a beautiful player who was very correct.

"He might have missed his chance with the Test stuff, but it will come around again, and he's definitely good enough.

"We've seen what he can do with the white-ball stuff, and we got another glimpse of that the other night (for the Thunder).”

Lumb said Vince had a tendency to go hard early, an aggressive trait that could also provide the Sixers with an early breakthrough.

The 36-year-old Lumb was handy himself on Monday night when he raced to 31 runs, only to be dismissed the first ball after a lengthy break in play while wicketkeeper Peter Nevill underwent concussion tests on the field.

Lumb, who had not played for more than three months after he underwent minor ankle surgery, is bound to improve for the hitout.

He has featured in no shortage of local derbies, recalling the days Chris Gayle was at the Thunder, and one match when Mitchell Starc delivered a ball from the heavens that cleaned up the middle stump of Jacques Kallis.

There was also a forgettable moment when he dropped Shane Watson cold last summer.

Lumb could not believe the rise and rise of the BBL, and only hoped to do his bit for Sixers with a win to guarantee "big brother” another finals berth.